The Fight to Keep Our Monuments Continues

Shi-Lynn Campbell on July 14, 2017

President Donald Trump’s call for a presidential review of National Monuments united millions of outdoor enthusiasts in support of our protected public lands. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke is tasked with providing the President with recommendations on the 27 National Monuments under review. Secretary Zinke may recommend that these National Monuments may be left as they are, have their borders reduced, or the designation rescinded in the forthcoming months. The first portion of this process, the public comment period, is now over. Thankfully, over 2.7 million comments were submitted in support of America’s National Monuments! However, we need to keep the pressure on the Department of the Interior and remind them that Nevadans love our national monuments!

Sunset in Gold Butte National Monument. Photo by Kirk Peterson.

Social media has become the platform of choice for public opinion and social commentary during this Monument review. Informing your family and friends of not only your opinion regarding public lands but how they can get involved can be achieved with the click of a button. We urge all of you to continue to put the pressure on Interior Secretary Zinke, President Trump and your local representatives. Let them know that Nevadans support all National Monuments, especially our Nevada Monuments Basin & Range and Gold Butte.

Here's a few examples you can post to your social media.

Sample tweets:

You made your public comment, what next? Send a tweet to urge @SecretaryZinke to protect our #MonumentsForAll:monumentsforall.org/action

Our #MonumentsForAll help define who we are as a nation. THANK YOU for defending America’s heritage! http://bit.ly/2uaesgA

Who has submitted comments in support of #MonumentsForAll? Business owners, sportsmen & more! http://bit.ly/2uaesgA@SecretaryZinke

Sample Facebook posts:

The public has spoken! In just 60 days, more than 2.5 million comments have been submitted by Americans across the country who love and cherish our national monuments – designations that safeguard our nation’s history, our culture, and our natural wonders. What’s next? Send a tweet to urge Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to listen to the American people and protect our #MonumentsForAll:http://monumentsforall.org/action

From sea to shining sea, Americans agree! On April 26, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order that threatens to carve up – or even abolish – national monuments across the nation. Since then, Americans from all walks of life have spoken out against attacks on our public lands and waters: More than 2.7 million public comments urge Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to stand with our #MonumentsForAll and leave our shared national heritage intact. http://bit.ly/2uaesgA

Sample Instagram posts:

The public has spoken! In just 60 days, more than 2.7 million comments have been submitted by Americans across the country who love and cherish our national monuments – designations that safeguard our nation’s history, our culture, and our natural wonders. @usinterior Secretary Ryan Zinke, listen to the American people: Protect our #MonumentsForAll.

From sea to shining sea, Americans agree! On April 26, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order that threatens to carve up – or even abolish – national monuments across the nation. Since then, Americans from all walks of life have spoken out against attacks on our public lands and waters: More than 2.7 million public comments urge @usinterior Secretary Ryan Zinke to stand with our #MonumentsForAll and leave our shared national heritage intact.

Basin & Range National Monument/ photo by Tyler Roemer

A special thanks goes to Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Congresswoman Dina Titus, Congressman Ruben Kihuen, and Congresswoman Jacky Rosen for their continued support of public lands in Nevada. Their voices echo the love and appreciation Nevadans possess for our National Monuments. Other local politicians, have spoken up as well, including Assemblyman Steve Yeager. As a collective, our intentions to keep our national monuments protected will be made clear from Nevada to Washington D.C. and the steps of the White House. Overwhelmingly, we want #MONUMENTSFORALL and we will continue to fight to protect these national treasures.